Indicted candidate in Corpus Christi says he will turn himself in when he deems the time is right

Corpus Christi District 3 city council candidate Eric Tunchez, indicted in an alleged prostitution scheme, had not yet turned himself in by Nov. 6 but told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times he will “when the time is right.”

Tunchez said in a Facebook live video that he did not know when the best time would be to turn himself in to authorities, according to the article. Alleging a conspiracy to ruin his reputation, he encouraged Corpus Christi voters to cast their ballots for him in the general election. Unofficial returns appeared to show he did not make the runoff in the District 3 race.

“I’m still here, I’m still fighting for what is right,” he said in the video quoted by the Caller-Times. “I will turn myself in when the time is right, when I make sure that I have those affairs taken care of.”

Tunchez told the newspaper he knows a warrant is out for his arrest. He said the allegations against him date back to January 2017 but were not brought to light until just days before Tuesday’s election.

He’s accused in the indictment of knowingly owning, controlling, financing, supervising or investing in a prostitution enterprise involving at least two prostitutes, according to the article. Tunchez denied the allegations.

The warrant was issued Nov. 2, the same day Tunchez’ live video was published.

He remained eligible to run for office because he has not been convicted of a crime.